Hope Planned Out – Part 2
Pearl Opel Thorpe lived in a small house near Utica Square in Tulsa. She was a collector of art, dolls, and hats. Preferring to be called Opel, she was a warm and eclectic woman who always dressed in bright, matching colors. She had that jovial sort of kindness about her; the kind where you felt absolutely welcomed in her presence.
Aside from Opel’s interesting personality and surroundings, she had a deep care for homeless and abused women and their children. She hadn’t necessarily experienced homelessness or abuse herself, yet God placed a passion in her to want to help those women who have been left unsupported and unloved.
You see, Ms. Thorpe was an elderly woman in her 90s and couldn’t do much to actually help the women about whom she truly cared—or could she? Many conversations and meetings over several years with David Battles from the Foundation helped her to find a way to make a positive impact on homeless and abused women and their children.
Hope beyond life
Pearl Opel Thorpe was 93 years old before she made a plan in her trust. She wrote out the hopes and dreams she had to change lives of so many women and named the Foundation as the successor trustee. We have since carried out her dream along with the United Methodist Circle of Care in the ministry called Pearl’s Hope. Read more online about Pearl’s Hope at:
www.circleofcare.org/ministries/programs/pearlshope
Do you want to tell a better story?
Contact David Battles at 800-259-6863 or dbattles@okumf.org for information on how you can tell a Better Story through a legacy gift.